Age of your basketball decline?

samuraiswoosh · Jan 13, 2015

I have played continuously since the age of 6. Particularly the ages of 10 - 25. At rec centers as a kid playing 10 to 12 hours a day on weekends. 3 to 4 hours a night that entire time, all week even as an adult @ the gym after work.

Haven't played too frequently the past 2 years. Since I turned 26, it was sporadic that I got on the court. When I did my skills were still there. My athleticism was still there. I could always get to a point on the court I wanted to ... could also usually lock someone up when I felt like it.

Just started getting back to the gym consistently recently, I'm 29 now, and I have never felt so old or un-able to do the things I want to out there in my life. I quickly get fatigued too. Can only play for so long. If my team keeps winning, by the 4th or 5th game I'm really feeling it. Endurance wasn't ever a problem for me. My jumper is broke. My handle is sloppy. Which was my calling card my entire basketball life, and the skill set I was most prolific at ... my mind will tell me to jump, and my body will weakly attempt to elevate to grab boards.

Do you think it's just atrophy of my skills, endurance, and body due to relative inactivity, mainly basketball over the past 2 years? Or do you think I've concretely begun my athletic decline?

What age were you when you simply couldn't do the things you used to on the court? Where you felt old, tired, or really rusty skill wise? When players you used to abuse on call now at times can give you the business and you're helpless but to just watch?

Commiserate, or give me a boost that it isn't all bleak and I need to just work out the kinks ...

:angry:

jpzx · Jan 13, 2015

For the NBA, when you're playing nearly every day and every other day for almost all of your life - it's 28.

For average joes like us that are not keeping up with ourselves as frequently and don't have the same number of fine-tunes/"oil checks" - it's 25.

I'm 22. Don't come in here with your weak ****.

samuraiswoosh · Jan 13, 2015

JPZx said:
For the NBA, when you're playing nearly every day and every other day for almost all of your life - it's 28.

For average joes like us that are not keeping up with ourselves as frequently and don't have the same number of fine-tunes/"oil checks" - it's 25.

I'm 22. Don't come in here with your weak ****.

I wasn't professional. But I played countless Rec Leagues, Summer Camps every year, HS Ball, BCI, Men's Leagues, Daily Pick Up, and was in great shape this entire time until this recent 2 year hiatus. Feels bad, man.

art vandelay · Jan 13, 2015

I knew it was over when I couldn't dunk. I know it isn't the main focal point of the game, but for me I prided myself on my athleticism. As the athleticism started to go though, I shot better, and every now and then there would be "flashes". I still had the endurance, similar to Rip Hamilton in his day, but as time wore on it didn't take long to start getting winded, where 5-6 games turned into two solid games, and if we kept running the court I would look to the bleachers to find a dude from the squad we beat to take my spot because I was through.

Now in my age, I like to shoot around, and teach my son what I know, and what I used to do, just with out the springs. Plus since I've been in the military my knees have taken a beating, that's why I don't clown guys like Stoudemire, Martin, or guys who suffered knee problems because that's serious business. I may be good for one, maybe two solid competitive games, after that, I'm leaving, or hitting the weights.

Lovetohate3000 · Jan 13, 2015

never could jump and never was quick or fast . \
... have easily put in 1000s of hours playing pickup at the gym , park.....
.used to be a chucker .shot up everything and rarely passed ... been on the decline for 2 years now im 31 now but ive just changed how i play dont chuck anymore but ive noticed as ive gotten older my court awareness has gotten much better and im craftier and stronger now . ......
i dont even really jump on my shots anymore cuz my cartilage has worn down and it hurts......

dmxfury · Jan 13, 2015

Basketball is extremely tough on joints and knees. Late 20s, early 30s it begins to get to that 'not worth it' stage

Hockey - easy on joints :smokin

rck3sactown · Jan 13, 2015

Where is Wayne Washington to make sense of this??

for me, I stopped playing when I was 21-23/24.... now at 25, I've been playing semi-regularly over the last 12 months or so and its been coming along slowly but surely.

Definitely have a bit more of an old man game, but there's noticeable difference from when I started 9 months ago

samuraiswoosh · Jan 13, 2015

rck3sactown said:
Definitely have a bit more of an old man game, but there's noticeable difference from when I started 9 months ago

Better or worse?

Thanks for all the replies, fellas. Interesting hearing everyone's experiences with this ...

art vandelay said:
I knew it was over when I couldn't dunk. I know it isn't the main focal point of the game, but for me I prided myself on my athleticism. As the athleticism started to go though, I shot better, and every now and then there would be "flashes". I still had the endurance, similar to Rip Hamilton in his day, but as time wore on it didn't take long to start getting winded, where 5-6 games turned into two solid games, and if we kept running the court I would look to the bleachers to find a dude from the squad we beat to take my spot because I was through.

Now in my age, I like to shoot around, and teach my son what I know, and what I used to do, just with out the springs. Plus since I've been in the military my knees have taken a beating, that's why I don't clown guys like Stoudemire, Martin, or guys who suffered knee problems because that's serious business. I may be good for one, maybe two solid competitive games, after that, I'm leaving, or hitting the weights.

Do you know how old you were exactly?

johnnyredstorm · Jan 13, 2015

me personally? it was over the day i first started playing.

victor page · Jan 13, 2015

Same age as OP.

I got on the floor with my little cousins and they ran me off the floor the other night.

Im getting back in the gym full time. Never been this outta shape.

sea manup · Jan 13, 2015

used to be able to dunk a volleyball in highschool

not sure if i can touch rim anymore

im a way better basketball player now though (im 21)

andoneflip · Jan 13, 2015

My shot is still wet i just wish i could dunk im 6'2

rck3sactown · Jan 13, 2015

SamuraiSwoosh said:
rck3sactown said:

Definitely have a bit more of an old man game, but there's noticeable difference from when I started 9 months ago

Click to expand...

Better or worse?

Better than when I started again 9 months ago.

at first, I was literally useless; struggling to even make it up and down the floor.

Now I've got my wind back and can play a bit more within my limits and pick my spots to use/try my athleticism that has faded.

jkballer5 · Jan 13, 2015

Started to feel different at 24...2 years after I graduated college. I've played ball my whole life, but after I graduated college and got a career, my time in the gym playing has gone down considerably. Where I'm at, there's not many good quality indoor courts, and quality runs are even rarer. Every once in a while I'll have time to hang with some younger friends who are at the local university and I sneak in to run with them and I'm just not the same.

I'm a 6' white guy who used to be able to dunk, had a quick first step, could shoot from 3, etc...now anytime I drive and elevate, I get fouled or blocked. Feels batman not being able to finish anymore :lol:

I've started to adjust my game slowly, and try to cut and flash to the basket more often instead of relying on my first step to get there. I also have worked on my jumper to make it more consistent and have a midrange game. But it still haunts me at time to feel the athleticism leave my body. And I'm only good for 2-3 quality games and I'm exhausted too.

I think aside from the time, I also travel a lot. Sometimes I get in a good rhythm and play a few times a week for a few months, but then I have to go on the road for 2 weeks here, 1 month there, etc and when I come back I have to start alllll over again. Frustrating.

Sonny Corinthos · Jan 13, 2015

I lost all my basketball skills 11 years ago

100027 · Jan 13, 2015

Better than ever which is... mediocre.

Million times more in shape than I was in high school and college, but I do feel the pain afterwards on a different level. The feet... My god.

sharpshooter718 · Jan 13, 2015

26-28 my game couldnt adjust to my weight so i worked on my left to facilitate my lack of speed... my 15-17 pull up is key to staying injury free

Im 32 now

dipsetgeneral · Jan 13, 2015

Starting a league this Thursday. We'll see how my 11 pts & 4 assists average in high school, holds up for me.

I'm 25. By the way.

samuraiswoosh · Jan 14, 2015

sharpshooter718 said:
26-28 my game couldnt adjust to my weight so i worked on my left to facilitate my lack of speed... my 15-17 pull up is key to staying injury free

Im 32 now

What was your height / weight when you were good, and how much weight did you get up to that made you change your game?

dman14 · Jan 14, 2015

prob lee 25 i started to see that decline.
shot aint the same for some reason after i fell on it
lateral movement on defense and lift is definitely gone

lynchpin33 · Jan 14, 2015

Personally I can really tell a decline in the recovery process. If I don't get a good night rest, sit in an ice tube for 20 minutes, wear a lunarlon shoe (Hyperdunks, Kobe 8 or 9) I am really feeling it the next day. Also, what is gone for me is the days of just walking in the gym and playing. It's the jumprope and a couple of laps and stretching before I hit the floor. And if I lose and have to wait more than one game I'm done, or go to the track or weightroom. Too old to sit around a wait a few games to get back on again. I use to be against Iverson when he said I'm too old to come of the bench, by having to get loose and play for a few minutes and come back to the bench and wait to play again. I now fully understand where he was coming from.

Playing wise I still feel good because I play daily, but the layoff during the holidays had me out of it, being yesterday was the first time I played in 3 weeks. Around my way during the holidays you can't find a game anywhere....

willzway26 · Jan 15, 2015

Im 31 now and Im just as good/athletic as I was when I was 21....

The difference I play a lot more now. Im more serious about fitness and nutrition now I guess since Im older now, or maybe because they opened a gym next door to me.

Honestly the biggest thing is staying sharp. Even if I can get time to hit some jumpers and dribble a bit for like 15 minutes, it keeps that muscle memory intact.

And fitness and nutrition is so important. Consistent exercise and rest, and I dont do fast food and try to get my fruits and veggies in. I couldnt imagine what my body would be like going to McDonalds on a gym day....

addict4sneakers · Jan 15, 2015

I'm 30 and I feel like I'm still nice. The old man craft is taking over for the declining athleticism, but I'm still more athletic than the average joes at the rec

willzway26 · Jan 15, 2015

Yeh craftyness is on 100 now I forgot abt that

danikerhino · Jan 15, 2015

I felt like I can get to my personal best if I practiced for a few months only because I didn't continuiosly push my body in my 20s like I did in my teens. I maybe only had around 15-20 games since 19 where I really left it all in the court and because of that, I have now injuries or abnormalities going on with me. Most of the time in my 20s, I just passed a lot or shot jump shots, I didn't really drive the rock unless the key was clear or the was a slow dude in the box, never really played physical everyone I knew held back.

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Age of your basketball decline?

samuraiswoosh

jpzx

samuraiswoosh

art vandelay

Lovetohate3000

dmxfury

rck3sactown

samuraiswoosh

johnnyredstorm

victor page

sea manup

andoneflip

rck3sactown

jkballer5

Sonny Corinthos

formerly joeclear

100027

sharpshooter718

dipsetgeneral

samuraiswoosh

dman14

lynchpin33

willzway26

addict4sneakers

willzway26

danikerhino

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